Older car? 'Just plug and play' with this Bluetooth gizmo — on sale for $15

How nice it would be to take calls or listen to podcasts wirelessly while you drive. You can! And no, you don't have to buy a fancy new car to do it. Enter the Lihan Hands-free Call Car Charger — it can be yours for just $15 (was $19) at Amazon. The multifunctional charger — Android- and iOS-compatible — goes above and beyond its two USB ports. It boasts wireless Bluetooth compatibility so users can accept calls and stream music on their phones using FM frequency. It also supports TF cards or USB flash drives up to 32GB. No wonder it has over 32,000 five-star fans!

LIHAN

Lihan Hands-Free Call Car Charger

$17$19

Save $2 with Prime

This handy device lets you take full advantage of services such as Android Auto and Carplay, even in an older vehicle.

Save $2 with Prime

$17 at Amazon

Why is it a good deal?

Maybe you love your jalopy and don't want to get rid of it. Maybe money's tight and you have to stick with your '05 Corolla for now. Or maybe you have a souped-up old ride that looks new. Whatever your situation, for only $15 the muffler may not sound new but the music will.

Why do I need this?

Once plugged in, you can tune it to an unused FM radio frequency to sync it to your car (use Radio Locator to find one in your neck of the woods). Next, pair your smartphone to this smart charger ... and that’s it! Music and podcast streaming from your phone will now broadcast to the unused frequency into your car’s speakers for complete surround sound with no radio static.

The easy-to-use car charger has a skip and rewind button on either side of a phone button that is used to answer or reject calls, eliminating the need for hands-on phone use when you’re on the road. There’s also a built-in microphone and the phone button doubles as a volume dial, which adds to the convenience factor without the need to upgrade your car altogether.

What reviewers say:

Sure, most new cars come with all the latest tech features, including Bluetooth, but this hands-free multitasker can bring even decades-old vehicles into the 21st century via that likely unused cigarette lighter. Happy customers are calling it everything from "a great buy!" to an "absolute lifesaver."

One five-star reviewer shared, "Excellent solution, excellent price, excellent sound quality! Love this. Got one for myself and then got a few as gifts because I thought it was so great."

"I like the ease in which it sets up," wrote a happy shopper. "Not being a gadget wizard, just plug and play. The vehicle I use it in is a 1993 Ford. It makes it nice, when the phone rings, just put the radio on the channel you selected on device and talk. ..." They added, "Since my truck is a 1993, I can't make it work in the cigarette lighter, but it does work in the power port."

"Everyone who has spent (wasted) money on these types of gadgets in the past knows of their frustrating limitations. I am happy to say somehow Lihan has cracked the code on how to deliver a great performing piece of hardware at a reasonable price," said another delighted five-star reviewer. "This product does what it is supposed to do. The sound transmits beautifully to the FM [frequency]. ... It is as if I now have a Bluetooth in my non-Bluetooth equipped car. ... It does the job well and at a great price."

This final fan had a tip: "Just be careful and check whether your port operates constantly or only when the vehicle is running before you leave it plugged in over the weekend."

LIHAN

Lihan Hands-free Call Car Charger

$17$19

Save $2 with Prime

Finally, you'll be able connect your phone to that old car of yours so you can take calls, play music and more on the road.

Save $2 with Prime

$17 at Amazon

If you want a smart home to go with your smart car, Wyze has a top-notch indoor/outdoor camera.

WYZE

Wyze Cam v3 with Color Night Vision,

$32$36Save $4

This indoor/outdoor camera boasts color night vision and can be configured to record 24/7 (with a MicroSD card sold separately). You'll get alerts sent straight to your phone for any motion or sound the camera detects.

$32 at Amazon

The v3 works with Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free navigation and voice commands. Thanks to sharing features, more than one family member can access video recordings and a live stream. Says one five-star reviewer: "Awesome little camera!"

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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